Relevant markers of cancer stem cells indicate a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Abstract

The potential prognostic value of stem cell markers is variably reported, such as CD133 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule. However, their clinical value and significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain controversial. The aim of this study was to carry out a meta-analysis of literature evaluating CD133 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule expression as prognostic factors in HCC and to determine the association between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and common clinical and pathologic features of HCC. The relevant literature was identified using Science Direct, EMBASE, and PubMed. Outcome measures included disease-free survival, overall survival, and relevant pathological parameters. Meta-analyses were carried out using Review Manager, version 5.2. Twelve eligible articles involving 1344 patients were included. Meta-analyses showed that the presence of CSCs was significantly associated with a poor histological grade (OR=3.16, P=0.003) and elevated serum α-fetoprotein level (OR=2.68, P<0.00001). However, there were no significant relations between the presence of CSCs and tumor size, tumor stage, hepatitis, or cirrhosis. The presence of CSCs was significantly associated with poor survival, including overall survival (HR=1.62, P<0.00001) and disease-free survival (HR=1.85, P<0.00001). On the basis of current retrospective evidence, the presence of CSCs is associated with poor histopathologic grade and worse survival in patients with HCC and CD133 plays a significant role in predicting the clinical outcome. Further extensive experimental and clinical research should be carried out to evaluate the role of these markers in clinical practice.

Properly assessing CD133 as a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after resection

“…Zhong et al found that CD133 overexpression was significantly associated with low tumor differentiation, advanced tumor stage, presence of vascular invasion and thrombosis, and poor OS and DFS [3]. These results are similar to a previous meta-analysis by other authors of 12 retrospective studies involving 1344 patients [6].While the meta-analysis by Zhong et al[3] provides important new information about the association of CD133 overexpression with HCC clinicopathology and outcomes, its conclusions should be treated with caution in light of several limitations. First, the authors systematically searched only the databases of PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang.…”

“…Zhong et al found that CD133 overexpression was significantly associated with low tumor differentiation, advanced tumor stage, presence of vascular invasion and thrombosis, and poor OS and DFS [3]. These results are similar to a previous meta-analysis by other authors of 12 retrospective studies involving 1344 patients [6].…”

Aberrant JMJD3 Expression Upregulates Slug to Promote Migration, Invasion, and Stem Cell–Like Behaviors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…Metastasis and stem cell-like properties are essential for hepatocellular carcinoma cells to disseminate from adjacent tissues and seed new tumors in distant sites (21,22). Our results demonstrated that JMJD3 regulated these two essential characteristics of metastatic disease, and JMJD3-induced processes are reversible with the suppression of JMJD3 expression.…”

Clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of the expression of the cancer stem cell marker CD133 in hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

“…Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of death worldwide, with nearly one million new cases diagnosed every year worldwide [1,2]. Previous researches have indicated that hepatic resection is the most practical and effective treatment for HCC, and 5-year survival rates of up to 50 % can be achieved [3][4][5].…”